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Abnormal
normal: conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected. To be called abnormal sounds insulting. I suppose it depends upon context, but as I read the definition of normal, I’m not sure I want to be that either. Normal is not the adjective we want when we look to lead, to inspire, to grow, to…
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Living Forward, Learning Backward: A Journey to Intentional Living
Where we are right now is our reality. This reality is best understood by reflecting on the moments that have shaped who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. Without deliberate reflection, we risk becoming stuck in the moment—feeling lost or uncertain about our current position and emotions. To take control of…
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Daring Grand
Our greatest accomplishments in life often come from moments that required courage and perseverance—times when we had to face fear and embrace the risk of failure. These are the moments when we step out of our comfort zones and into a world of grand possibilities. We dare greatly, and we take that crucial first step.…
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Invisible Impact
Leaders and service-oriented individuals derive a sense of self-worth from the outcomes of their efforts. Sometimes we get to see the fruits of our labor right away. Oftentimes, this isn’t the case though. The invisible impact may be delayed or just not seen. This can happen when we learn, when we touch another’s life, when…
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The Gift of Hope
If there is one thing I would wish for everyone is HOPE. With HOPE, we can see the opportunities and blessings in front of us and that lie ahead. The gift of HOPE is the greatest gift of all.
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Persistence, not Perfection
The more I experience, the more I realize that success doesn’t come from finding perfection. It comes from persistently overcoming obstacles.
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The Cage of Creative Thinking
When working through the improvement process, we can see things as they are now and then look to make subtle changes to improve. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the improvement path that leads you out of the current situation, closer to your vision. Instead, try flipping your process, block out the current status…
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Many More Hills to Climb
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” –Nelson Mandela This famous quote by Nelson Mandela can evoke an image of work that is never done. To some, it signifies a daunting vision of what lies ahead, yet, to the contrary, how fortunate we are to have…
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In Search of Giants
In a leadership capacity, be weary of comfort and contentment that lasts for too long. These feelings should be pitstops or temporary rests on your journey of improvement, but not the destination. When you are in need of inspiration and motivation yourself as a leader, find those giants around you who make you want to…
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The Long Hard Day
“Today was a long, hard day.” This response has been uttered many times, yet it can derive from two different types of day. The first form of long, hard day comes from dealing with unexpected and difficult situations; a reaction to something coming at you with ferocity. These days happen for a variety of reasons, and to even…
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Up The Steep Path
When hiking a steep mountainside of loose rock or scree, for every step you take, you lose a half a step in backslide. It takes nearly twice the effort to get to the desired result. Scree slide can be the most frustrating experience as we walk toward our goal, and when we don’t accept it, it makes it…